“We believe this process of pre-testing does allow us to bring travelers back to Hawaii in a way that maintains a priority on the health and safety of our community.”
Photo by Sung Shin on Unsplash
However, Hawaii’s Governor David Ige, envisions the new quarantine rule starting August 1st to stay in place until a vaccine is made available or treatments have aided to the decreased risk of the virus.
And just to be clear, the test is optional. If you decline to be tested, you will be required to quarantine for your stay up to 14-days at the time of arrival.
How and Where to Get Tested
Depending on where you’re located, a testing location could be conveniently located. Hawaii is in conversations with CVS, Walgreens, and Kaiser with helping administer tests with a quick turnaround of 3-days. The test of choice will be PCR.
A 3-day turnaround for testing is pretty quick, but between these large testing locations, they’ll be able to keep up with the demand. That’s the reason why there will be no testing available at the airports at arrival.
Hawaii’s COVID-19 tests are primarily for residents. So, the influx of arriving passengers would put a lot of pressure and strain on Hawaii’s testing capacity. Also, having proof of testing negative for coronavirus at the time of travel will help to speed up the travel process rather than having to wait around at the airport for a test when you arrive.
The state will be responsible for ensuring proper testing papers, not the airlines.
Image by fernando zhiminaicela from Pixabay
Details and Questions Are Still Developing
- Testing costs?
- What if I don’t have access to CVS, Walgreens, Kaiser, etc?
- What happens if I test positive?
- What questions do you have? Let us know in the comments below.
What to Expect at the Airports
I’m not entirely sure what airports and airplanes will look like on August 1st. I do have some facts and opinions. I don’t think a lot of people will be traveling right away. Hawaiian Airlines has also stated that it won’t be flying with a full load of passengers.
Here is a video Hawaiian Airlines released on June 25th.
View this post on Instagram
With fewer crowds expected at the airports and with social distancing, I would expect wait times to be about the same as if it were a full day. That’s just my guess. What do you think?
A questionnaire form will also be required to present to your airline when checking in. Airports will be doing temperature scans. A temperature of 101.4 degrees Fahrenheit, and you’ll need more screening and likely a COVID-19 test on the sport. Masks are required at the airport, onboard the aircraft, and during the entire flight.
Photo by Anna Shvets from Pexels
What to Expect in Hawaii
Once you’ve jumped through all those hoops, welcome to Hawaii! In Hawaii, wearing masks and socially distancing will still be the requirement. You can expect fewer crowds, good deals, and beautiful weather.
The aloha spirit is still alive and well.
Photo by Errin Casano from Pexels
Tips for Smooth Travel
- Get tested for COVID-19 3-days before travel
- Isolate after testing until you travel
- Fill our online health form
- Budget for testing, a couple of hundred dollars?
- Plan extra time since this is all new.
- Pack light, let’s face it, you don’t need a lot in Hawaii, and the less you pack the less you have to think about
- Book early
We will keep you updated as details develop.
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So, that’s all we know right now. Now that Hawaii’s reopening date has been set, what about you? What questions do you have? Are you planning on traveling to Hawaii in 2020?
In This Episode
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[fusebox_transcript]
Bryan Murphy, owner of Hawaii’s Best Travel, is a certified Hawaii destination expert from the Hawaii Visitors Bureau. He actively participates in the Hawaii Visitors and Convention Bureau as a member and has a strong educational background focused on local culture and sustainability. As the host of "Hawaii’s Best Travel," a top-30 US travel podcast, Bryan combines his years of experience with valuable insights. He connects with a broad online community, reaching nearly half a million people, and offers a richer, more responsible way to experience Hawaii.
